TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:25:00 EDT    Volume 24 : Issue 437

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    UPN Premiers "Everybody Hates Chris" on Google Video (Reuters News Wire)
    Stealing Your ID Can be as Easy as ABC (Monty Solomon)
    Cable's Digital Drive Irks Basic Customers (Monty Solomon)
    Cellular-News for Monday 26th September 2005 (Cellular-News)
    Re: Gulf Coast Emerges From Battering by Rita (Neal McLain)
    Re: Getting Rid of "Legal" Spam? (Steven Lichter)
    Re: BellSouth/AT&T New Orleans "Main" at Baronne & Poydras (Paul Coxwell)
    Re: Record Labels Sue Baidu for Copyright Infringement (Robert Bonomi)

Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the
Internet.  All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and
the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
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               ===========================

Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be
sold or given away without explicit written consent.  Chain letters,
viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome.

We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we
are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because
we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands
against crime.   Geoffrey Welsh

               ===========================

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details
and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Reuters News Wire <reuters@telecom-digest.org> 
Subject: UPN Premiers "Everybody Hates Chris" on Google Video
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 12:39:24 -0500


Television network UPN on Monday said it would run a four-day exclusive
screening of the premier of its new comedy "Everybody Hates Chris" on a
streaming video site run by Google Inc. -- a first for each company.

The entire pilot of the new television show, which is based on the
childhood of comedian Chris Rock, is available via Google Video at
http://video.google.com/chris beginning on Monday, the companies said.

UPN is part of Viacom Inc. unit CBS Television.

The announcement comes as Web search companies like Google and rival
Yahoo Inc. work to strike content deals with companies that produce
news, television shows and films.

Some of those media companies are resistant to having their content
shown on sites run by the search providers, fearing that their online
audience and advertising revenue will shrink.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited.

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 01:23:38 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Stealing Your ID Can be as Easy as ABC


By Joe Light, Globe Correspondent 

Self-proclaimed identity thieves have a message for you: personal 
information is frighteningly easy to get.

Tammy Martin, a 37-year-old instructor at the University of Hawaii, 
couldn't believe it.

"This is wild," she said. "You can't live your life in a balloon, 
you know? But this is just wild."

Her shock was warranted. I had just called her on an unlisted
cellphone number and informed her that I had her Social Security
number, Visa card number, bank account and personal identification
numbers, and eBay account name and password.

If I chose, not only could I drain her bank account and rack up
charges on the Visa, but with her Social Security number, I could
probably open new credit cards -- maybe even a mortgage -- long before
she discovered a problem. Ultimately, she would likely not be
responsible for the charges, but it might take days -- or months -- to
rectify her credit.

Martin was not a victim of identity theft. But the information was in
the hands of a self-proclaimed identity thief. I received the
information during an interview with someone who goes by the online
nickname Bart Maza. He said he is an 18-year-old high school dropout
in Russia. In total, he gave me the data of 17 people.

I'd written several articles about identity theft for the Globe, but
this was the first time I attempted to directly contact an apparent
identity thief. Although I had spoken to many law enforcement
officials, private security investigators, victims, and consumer
advocates about the issue, I decided to go to the source to truly
understand how the identity theft supply chain operates -- from the
time that the data are stolen to the time that information is used
fraudulently.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/09/25/stealing_your_id_can_be_as_easy_as_abc/

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 02:02:46 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Cable's Digital Drive Irks Basic Customers


By Deborah Yao, AP Business Writer 

PHILADELPHIA --LaRonika Thomas got upset when Comcast moved the Sci-Fi
channel to its digital service this summer, ensuring she couldn't
continue to watch her favorite show, "Firefly," without paying $20
more a month.

The Chicago resident received The Golf Channel instead on her basic,
analog cable service.

"I don't watch golf. I would rather have static on than that channel,"
said the theater director.

"It's an awfully big cost," said Thomas. "I haven't canceled my
service yet, but I may."

Across the country, cable operators have been moving popular channels
from analog to digital service, which offers customers better picture
and sound but also can handle much larger volume, allowing cable
operators to use their networks for more lucrative options such as
video on demand and Internet and telephone services.

Cable operators such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications
and Cablevision are tight-lipped about the changes, which affect many
of the nation's cable subscribers. Markets seeing the change include
cities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan,
Massachusetts, California, Louisiana, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas.

"They're trying to reclaim some of the capacity, mostly for HD" or
high-definition TV, said Bruce Leichtman, president of the Leichtman
Research Group, a research and consulting firm in Durham, N.H.

Digital services let cable operators better compete with satellite TV
and soon, phone companies, said Jimmy Schaeffler, an analyst with The
Carmel Group, a market research firm in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.

Another reason why digital is alluring to cable: "It's hugely more
profitable," Schaeffler said.

Fees for advanced services can inflate a basic subscriber's bill by 30
percent to 40 percent or more.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/09/25/cables_digital_drive_irks_basic_customers/

------------------------------

Subject: Cellular-News for Monday 26th September 2005
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:38:06 -0500
From: Cellular-News <dailydigest@cellular-news.com>


Cellular-News - http://www.cellular-news.com

  WiMAX trial in Pakistan
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14187.php

China's ZTE Corp. has announced a trial of its Pre-WiMAX kit in
Pakistan?s capital Islamabad through local operator Telecard. Under
the contract, ZTE will build a Pre-WiMAX trial network comprising one
six-sector Base Tr...

  First Arab 3G Roaming Agreement
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14188.php

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation -- Etisalat -- has announced
the signing of its first roaming agreement for customers of Mubashir,
the 3G mobile package. The agreement was signed between Etisalat and
Hong Kong's Sm...

  Hungary Mobile Subscribers Pass 9 Million Mark
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14189.php

Hungary's cellular phone market penetration nudged closer to the 90%
mark after it reached 89.4% at the end of August and passed the 9
million mark, according to reports from the National Communications
Authority of Hung...

  Jordan has the most Competitive Arab Cellular Market - report
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14190.php

Jordan has overtaken Palestine as the most competitive Arab cellular
market, followed closely by Palestine and Algeria. Saudi Arabia's
cellular market moved from 12th place in 2004 to the 6th place in 2005
as the Kingdom...

  Openwave Claims Dominance of the MVNO Market
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14191.php

Openwave Systems says that it has over 85% of the Mobile Virtual
Network Operator (MVNO) mobile data market share in the USA. The MVNO
market is expected to reach US$10.7 billion in service revenue and
amass a total of 4...

  Qualcomm Embeds WiFi into 3G Chipsets
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14192.php

Qualcomm has announced that it's Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipsets
will support Philips' wireless local area network (WLAN) module. This
integrated solution will offer connectivity to WLAN networks as well
as to existi...

  Siemens Brand to Appear on BenQ Phones
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14193.php

Taiwan's BenQ is to start dual branding its mobile phones with the
Siemens brand name from the first quarter of next year, according to a
company spokesperson. Under the terms on BenQ's purchase of the
Siemens handset di...

  Telecoms Boss Fired Over Corruption Allegations
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14194.php

Vietnam's Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai has fired the boss of the
state owned telecoms operator, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications
Corp (VNPT) over allegations of bribery and fraud. The dismissal comes
just a few days...

  3G on the Underground
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14195.php

Vodafone Portugal has extended its 3G (and GPRS) coverage to work on
all stations on the new Yellow Line (Line D) of the Oporto Metro. The
3G coverage provided by Vodafone at the sub-surface stations of the
Yellow Line -...

  No Need for SMSC's in New Networks
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14196.php

Warid Telecom of Pakistan has chosen Telsis' next-generation messaging
solution for its new-build network, instead of an old-style SMS
architecture based on conventional SMSCs. Warid's deployment of Telsis
Intelligent SM...

  Lebanon's Investcom Mobile Co To List In London, Dubai
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14186.php

Beirut-based mobile telecoms firm Investcom said Sunday it will carry
out two initial public offerings, listing shares in London and
Dubai. ...

  ACCS Ex-CEO Charged For Cheating Nokia
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14184.php

The founder and former chief executive of Singapore's Accord Customer
Care Solutions Ltd. (A27.SG) and 11 other former employees were
charged with cheating and dishonesty offenses by the Singapore police,
the Straits Tim...

  Palm, Microsoft To Team On New Treo
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14185.php

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) - Palm Inc. on Monday is expected to unveil
a version of its Treo product that combines a mobile phone with a
digital organizer, according to a person familiar with the company's
plans...

  Alltel Shares Gain As Options For Wireline Unit Weighed
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14177.php

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- Alltel Corp. on Thursday said it has started
a formal process to explore selling or spinning off the company's
traditional local phone business, a move that management has
considered f...


  Deutsche Telekom: No Plans Yet For T-Mobile USA IPO 
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14178.php

German telecommunications operator Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) has no
plans for an initial public offering for its U.S. wireless unit
T-Mobile USA now, Chief Executive Kai Uwe Ricke said at an investor
conference ...

  Cosmote To Invest Over EUR450 Million To Revamp Cosmorom
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14179.php

The chief executive of Greek mobile operator Cosmote Mobile
Telecommunications (COSMO.AT) Friday said the company plans to invest
more than EUR450 million over the next three years to revamp its
Romanian mobile phone uni...

  Nokia Gets Order From Jiangxi Mobile Telecommunication
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14180.php

Finland's Nokia Oyj (NOK) said Friday it has signed a contract for the
delivery of the Nokia Connect eRefill solution to Chinese mobile
operator Jiangxi Mobile Telecommunication Co. Ltd. ...

  Tiscali Sold 0.3% Of 3 Italy For Around EUR12.5 Million-CFO
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14181.php

Tiscali SpA (TIS.MI) sold its 0.3% stake in Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.'s
unit (0013.HK) 3 Italy for around EUR12.5 million, Tiscali Chief
Financial Officer Massimo Cristori said Friday during an analyst
conference call on th...

  US Cellular To Restructure Customer Service Dept
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14182.php

Telephone & Data Systems Inc. (TDS) disclosed Friday that its
U.S. Cellular Corp. (USM) unit will restructure its customer service
department as a result of the recently announced exchange of cellular
properties with All...

  Ericsson Likely To Appeal Decision To Up Taxable Income
  http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14183.php

Swedish telecommunications giant Telefon AB LM Ericsson (ERICY) said
it is likely to appeal against a tax authority decision to increase
its taxable income by a total 251 million kronor ($1=SEK7.7750) for
the three tax y...

------------------------------

From: Neal McLain <nmclain@annsgarden.com>
Subject: Re: Gulf Coast Emerges From Battering by Rita
Reply-To: nmclain@annsgarden.com
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 09:29:43 -0400


Julia Silverman <ap@telecom-digest.org>, in a long article most of
which is snipped here, wrote:

> By JULIA SILVERMAN, Associated Press Writer

> John Willy, the top elected official in Brazoria County,
> southwest of Houston, said he would ignore the state's 
> staggered return plan.

> "I am not going to wait for our neighbors to the north to get 
> home and take a nap, before I ask our good people to come 
> home," he said in a statement.  "Our people are tired of the 
> state's plan! They have a plan too and it's real simple. They 
> plan to come home when they want."

I live in Brazoria County.  We returned home yesterday after riding
out the storm at our daughter's place in northwest Houston.  The
damage here was minimal -- lots of tree branches on the ground, and
some of my wife's flowering plants were blown over, but there was no
structural damage.  Judging from the status of the digital clocks,
there had been a brief power outage.  I had boarded up the windows,
but that was probably unnecessary.

The storm had little effect in northwest Houston either. At our
daughter's place, the power (Reliant) and cable TV/internet (Time
Warner) never went out.  We all slept through landfall (even my
daughter's fiance, who wanted to watch it on TV, but fell asleep
on the couch).

The worst part of the whole experience was trying to follow the
state's official evacuation plan -- in our case, go to Brenham, Texas.
After a five-hour bumper-to-bumper crawl along SH-36 in 100-degree
weather, we abandoned the attempt, split off on a side road, and went
to Houston.  Which, in retrospect, is what we should have done in the
first place.

I blogged the entire experience:
http://www.survivingrita.blogspot.com/

Neal McLain


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: We are all glad to hear that you are
safe and sound, Neal.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Steven Lichter <shlichter@diespammers.com>
Reply-To: Die@spammers.com
Organization: I Kill Spammers, Inc.  (c) 2005 A Rot in Hell Co.
Subject: Re: Getting Rid of "Legal" Spam?
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 13:47:44 GMT


<hanco...@nbs.cpcn.com> escribi en el mensaje
news:telecom24.434.7@telecom-digest.org:

> Several years ago I signed up for the big PC Expo show in New York
> City.  I included my real email address.
> Since then I have received many advertisements for subsequent
> technology shows and from various vendors.  Early on I sent in a
> request to remove my name; that request was ignored.
> The promotors of PC Expo are not some "fly by night" basement outfit,
> they are supposedly a legitimate organization.  But I am angry that
> they released my email (which was required) to outsiders and that I
> continue to get spam from them.  The latest spam came from: ITD
> Holdings <d...@itdholdings.com>
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks.
> [public replies please]

There seems to be no way to get off of legal lists, if that what they
call them.  Sears and others like them are no problem, but these web
sites that need e-mail addresses sometimes sell them to others and
then they go from there.  I get one very regular, offering me refi on
property that I no longer own.  In the e-mail it thanks me for
contacting them or it was nice talking to you last night and so on.
The e-mail address is always forged and when you do a complete header
it is always from an IP that is offshore.  What is interesting is
whoever has written the e-mail must have not gone to school at all or
has no grip on English as the words are always spelled wrong, and I
don't mean just wrong, but no sense at all.

The only good spammer is a dead one!!  Have you hunted one down today?
(c) 2005  I Kill Spammers, Inc.  A Rot in Hell Co.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 15:02:06 +0100
From: Paul Coxwell <paulcoxwell@tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: Re: BellSouth/AT&T New Orleans "Main" at Baronne & Poydras


Isaiah Beard wrote:

>> I'm familiar with the old-style IDs such as "914-1" for White Plains
>> etc., but I've never been able to figure out how the current system
>> is supposed to work.

> It doesn't work, really, and is actually becoming less and less
> relevant as the network topology flattens.  The New Orleans 4ESS is
> probably among the last of its breed, and I remember hearing that AT&T
> removed a lot fo them from service long ago as they shifted towards a
> decentralized network.

Many thanks for the explanations.  As you might have guessed, I'm
still not fully conversant with the way the North American network was
structured even before the modern era, but I'm gradually piecing the
story together from various sources.

-Paul

------------------------------

From: bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com (Robert Bonomi)
Subject: Re: Record Labels Sue Baidu for Copyright Infringement
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 16:26:21 -0000
Organization: Widgets, Inc.


In article <telecom24.427.11@telecom-digest.org>,
Tony P.  <kd1s@nospamplease.cox.reallynospam.net> wrote:

> In article <telecom24.426.3@telecom-digest.org>, reuters@telecom-
> digest.org says:

>> The four largest record companies have sued Baidu.com Inc. for
>> copyright infringement, alleging the Chinese Internet search engine
>> has been illegally providing links to free digital music downloads,
>> according to a trade group the represents the music industry.

> I wonder what part of the fact that U.S. law doesn't apply in China
> thee folks aren't getting.

I wonder what part of the fact that the companies involved filed in
*CHINESE* courts, for violations of _Chinese_ law on copyrights --
note that China is a "Berne Convention" signatory -- that the
responding poster isn't getting.

<grin>

Note: under "Berne Convention" accords 'foreign' works _are_
protected, without need for any explicit filing in each country where
they may crop up.

------------------------------


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End of TELECOM Digest V24 #437
******************************